During a speech on "Genealogical Sources of the Philadelphia Area" delivered at the National Genealogical Society in March 1962, Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr. remarked parenthetically that there seemed to be lineage societies for all kinds of ancestors except tavern keepers. Suggested Kenn Stryker-Rodda from the audience, "let's found one." Enough persons heard of the idea to prompt Kenn's sending a letter dated 1 September 1963 suggesting "an annual dinner at an old inn, with colonial menu (solid and liquid) spiced with learned and witty addresses on suitable topics as the focus for the Society." It was Lee who dubbed the organization "Flagon and Trencher."

An item about F&T in the December 1963 issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly led to the receipt of so many applications that the first meeting was scheduled for 21 May 1965. At that time there were twenty charter members and thirty-two other qualified members. The Constitution and Bylaws were adopted 20 May 1967.

Name:

The name of this Society shall be FLAGON AND TRENCHER: Descendants of Colonial Tavern Keepers

Insignia:

The insignia shall be a tavern sign bearing the design of a flagon and a trencher with two wooden spoons and the name FLAGON and TRENCHER.

Purpose:

The purpose of this Society shall be to establish the good repute of colonial tavern keepers through:

• Collecting and disseminating among the members, and eventually to others, information concerning taverns, tavern keepers, tavern customs, recipes, menus, and all other data that may pertain to colonial taverns and their keepers.
• Building a body of genealogical records showing descent from colonial tavern-keeping ancestors.
• Creating for members through dinner meetings and other means the spirit of good fellowship and friendship inherent in there purposes.

Membership:

Members shall be limited to those who can prove direct descent from a person conducting a tavern, inn, ordinary, or other type of hostelry prior to 4 July 1776.

The list of qualifying ancestors for Flagon and Trencher includes nearly 600 in twelve colonies (none in GA, ME part of MA, VT part of NH) and two in Canada. New qualifying ancestors are being added at the rate of about 15 per year. Current membership of the society is about 900.

If you have any question as to whether you have a qualifying ancestor for the Flagon and Trencher, contact the Society. For contact information try The Hereditary Society Community.

Scanning the list of qualifying ancestors, the following are noted as Freeman Family Lines ancestors or their siblings:

Capt. Abraham Browne, Thomas Ford, John Hathaway, Jr., Luke Hitchcock, Capt. John Johnson, Lt. Joseph Kellogg, Samuel Marshfield, John Parmenter, Luke Smith, Lt. Samuel Smith.

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